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ovarian follicle

Go to external page http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/UBERON_0001305

A spherical aggregation of cells in the ovary that contains a single oocyte[WP,modified]. [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovarian_follicle http://www.repropedia.org/ovarian-follicle ]

Term info

Label

ovarian follicle

Synonyms
  • follicle of ovary
  • follicle of ovary viewed macroscopically
  • ovary follicle
database cross reference
Subsets

uberon_slim, pheno_slim, vertebrate_core

depicted by

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Human_ovarian_follicle.jpg, http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/Primary_follicle-4.JPG

editor note

TODO - align subtypes based on staging, which is taxon-specific

external definition

Oocyte development of zebrafish has been divided into five stages based on morphological criteria and on physiological and biochemical events. Stage I follicles (less than 140 microns) are primary growth stage, stage II follicles (140-340 microns) are cortical alveolus stage, stage III (340-690 microns) are vitellogenesis, stage IV (690-730 microns) are oocyte maturation, and stage V follicles are matured egg. Selman et al, 1993.[TAO]

function notes

The somatic cell component of the follicle produces hormones important for oocyte development and proper endocrine function

has related synonym

egg follicle, folliculi ovarici primarii, folliculi ovarici vesiculosi

homology notes

Examination of different vertebrate species shows that the adult gonad is remarkably similar in its morphology across different phylogenetic classes. Surprisingly, however, the cellular and molecular programs employed to create similar organs are not evolutionarily conserved.[uncertain][VHOG]

id

UBERON:0001305

taxon notes

These structures are periodically initiated to grow and develop, culminating in ovulation of usually a single competent oocyte in humans. These eggs/ova are only developed once every menstrual cycle (e.g. once a month in humans)